How Early Are Kids Starting Their Drug Use?

by SAMHSA

It's sometimes hard for adults, especially parents and caregivers, to imagine that children are using drugs. The fact is, however, that some young people are using tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs by age 12, sometimes even earlier. Recent findings from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse and the Youth Risk Behavior Survey will give you an idea about the extent of drug use among 12- and 13-year-olds.

According to 2001 results of the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse:

Among youths aged 12 and 13 (the youngest ages surveyed), in their lifetime:

• 12.6 percent had used an illegal drug. Illegal drugs include marijuana/hashish, cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, or any prescription-type psychotherapeutic used nonmedically.
• 3.9 percent had smoked marijuana or hashish.
• 6.1 percent had used an inhalant.
• 5.6 percent had used a psychotherapeutic (nonmedically).
• 10.0 percent of 12-year-olds and 17.6 percent of 13-year-olds reported cigarette smoking.
• 2.6 percent of 12-year-olds and 6.1 percent of 13-year-olds reported alcohol use.

If there can be any "good news" here, it is that trying a drug at least once doesn't mean a child is using it regularly. The percentages of teens using drugs tend to decrease as we ask about use in the past year and during the past 30 days. For example, a little over 7 percent of 12- and 13-year-olds had used an illegal drug in the past year, and 3.8 percent had used in the past month. Unfortunately, for some drugs, once can be deadly.

Another national survey asks high school students about when they began their use of illegal drugs.

According to the results of the 2001 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, before the age of 13:

• 22.1 percent of youths had smoked a whole cigarette.
• 29.1 percent of youths had their first drink of alcohol (other than a few sips).
• 10.2 percent of youths had tried marijuana.

As the statistics clearly show, the majority of youths aged 13 and younger are NOT using tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs. It is understandable then, that parents might think "not my kid," but why take a chance? Talk to your child today about the dangers of illegal drug and alcohol use.

For more information about the above-mentioned survey results and the limitations of their use, please visit the Web sites listed below.

Sources

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Office of Applied Studies. 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, last referenced 10/7/2002.

Grunbaum, J.A., L. Kann, S.A. Kinchen, B. Williams, J.G. Ross, R. Lowry, and L. Kolbe. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance - United States, 2001. MMWR Surveillance Summaries. June 28, 2002/51(SS04): 1-64, last referenced 10/7/2002.

About the Author

www.samhsa.gov
SAMHSA works to improve the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, alcohol and drug addiction treatment, and mental health services. Includes links to support groups, information resources, events and articles.